Small, Quiet Air Pump for 5 Gallon Planted Tank with Betta? (Fluval Chi tank)

Hi, I'm new to fish and aquatic planting but am addicted already! I just need advice please.

I killed my first betta and felt bad for it. I didn't realize how much they needed. I then went out and spent a buttload to keep my current betta. I'm currently undergoing the nitrate cycle with him in it. I have a java fern, a few anubias and some Japanese hairgrass. I have fluorite black soil in and am awaiting my shipment of pretty white Fluval rocks. I haven't yet figured out how I will design/arrange the tank but I want my plants and betta to live.

It's a 5 gallon Fluval ChI tank. my betta appears to be very young as his body is about 1.5 inches long.

Here are my million questions (yes, I do not want to mess up this time around!)

1. How many plants allowed for my betta to be comfortable in there? I also want to get an otocinclus in there. Will that be too crowded? Should I get a nerite snail instead? or should I get both an oto and a snail too? The rocks are going to be very white and I was told getting either of these guys will help.

2. I would like to get an air pump. I've never owned one but read up on getting a quiet one. which brands are best for a small tank like mine?

3. My betta is small. like I said he is about 1.5 inch body. I threw out the betta pellets as he didnt' eat it (I think they were too big for his mouth?). I was told to try the flakes until he gets older but he eats then and spits them out and the flakes all fall down to the soil (currently using turkey baster to clean it up).

4. I was told my fluval chI tank filter is not a good one but was told by others that it should be fine as long as I clean my filters out very often. is this true? or should I bet getting a new kind of filter?

5. if I get good at aquascaping/fishkeeping, is it okay to keep low light plants in the tank with medium to high light plants in there with an led light over the tank or will the low light plants die due to too much lighting?

Any information is greatly appreciated!

 

To be honest you should upgrade to at least a 20-30 gallon if you want to have otos. And you probably don't need a airstone in such a small tank. You can stuff that baby up with plants. No such thing as too many plants. 1 snail would be fine in a 10 gallon. I'm not sure on the filter but I would recommend a aquaclear product I have 2 40-70 gph filters on a 50 gallon. If you have a filter for your betta I would put a protector or a sponge on the intake thing so the bettas fins don't get caught up.

Hope this helps!

 

Thank you for responding!

-it sounds like you're saying plants will take the place of an air pump. I guess I'm not understanding. Isn't the air pump needed for better circulation for the plants and fish alike?

 

I don't use air pump and my plants are fine and fish. Yes in saying the plants should replace the airpump

 

Otos do best in a group and scare a bit easy, so it might not be a good idea to put them in with a betta.
You should get an air pump. I made a sponge filter with my air pump since I found that most filters shredded my bettas fins. It's a good idea to have an air pump/sponge filter combo in your tank even if it's planted, it helps with the nitro cycle.
For a quiet pump, I got the Altum aquatic nano air pump. It's tiny and very quiet, but not very strong... it'll work fine for a 5 gallon but not for any other size tank.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app